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As a video game series borrowing heavily from martial arts films, the Mortal Kombat films are undeniable. And yet, few have managed to achieve widespread fan and critical acclaim, as many feel these adaptations simply don’t catch on. Of course, if we are not talking about the original 1995 film.
Of the six films made from the games, both live action and animated, most fans still list Mortal Kombat (1995) as their favorite. This is despite the fact that the 2021 reboot was made on a much larger budget.
This comes from a passionate discussion on the Mortal Kombat subreddit where fans put forward their pick of the best Mortal Kombat movie. For many of them, this decision is not difficult.
“There has never been a better one than the first one so far,” writes one. Many agree, saying that there is only one clear acceptable answer. “The first one is the best. He knew how absurd and vulgar the premise was and used it,” writes another. “Accurate and respectful of the games. I’d say it’s the best video game movie and the second best video game adaptation.”
There are a few daredevils willing to say they like the 2021 reboot more, but for the most part, fans are condemning its portrayal of the characters. They are especially unhappy with how the movie changed everyone’s abilities, introducing the concept of “Arcana” to explain why there is magic in the universe.
In addition, other films are fighting for second place. That spot is usually taken by one of the animated Mortal Kombat Legends movies, which is certainly less divisive than the live-action movies. That leaves “Extermination”, which is generally considered to be in the “so bad it’s good” category.
